Developing drum

Abstract

Apparatus is described for the processing of a film contained in a cassette. The cassette comprises a substantially cylindrical body formed with a light-tight, longitudinally extending film exit slot, end caps to the body and a spool held between the caps and having the film wound thereon. The apparatus comprises a light-tight enclosure, preferably in the form of a columnar body, provided with means shaped to receive and retain the cassette body and provided with a space sufficiently large to receive from the cassette the spool with the film wound thereon. A plunger is provided for engaging the spool of the cassette and for moving it to force an end cap off the cassette body and to move the spool and the film wound thereon into said space where the film can be treated with processing liquid. The processing liquid may be present in the space or can be introduced into it and drained from it through light-tight channels and/or passages. The plunger may pass through a lid of the enclosure or be fixed to it. Rotation in both directions of the plunger in the apparatus causes the film to wind and unwind in the spool and to be washed evenly with processing liquid.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for the processing of a film contained in a cassette, the cassette being of the kind comprising a substantially cylindrical body formed with protruding light-tight, longitudinally extending film exit slot means, end caps to said body and a spool held between said end caps and having the film wound thereon, said apparatus comprising a light-tight enclosure, means therein shaped to receive and retain said cassette body and having a space sufficiently large to receive from said cassette the spool with the film wound thereon, and a plunger adapted for engaging the spool of said cassette and being movable to force one of said end caps off said cassette body and to move said spool and the film wound thereon out of said cassette body and into said space, said space being adapted for containing liquid for processing the film. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a clumnar body, having a longitudinal axis, and a block accomodated by said columnar body and having a central aperture adapted for receiving the cassette and retaining the cassette body and for limiting said space below said block at an upper end zone thereof. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said central aperture of said block extends longitudinally, with an adjoining, axially extending groove or recess adapted for receiving said protruding film exit slot means of the cassette, said groove or recess having a blocked lower end. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a lid and said plunger is so mounted in axially screwable relation in said lid as to be fitted into said spool and, when screwed downward, to force off the lowermost end cap of the cassette and pass through the cassette body to move the spool having the film wound thereon into said space underneath said block. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each said lid and said block comprises at least one channel for introducing processing liquid into said space and for removing it therefrom, with at least either the channel of said lid or of said block, or both, being light-tight. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the said lid has a threaded aperture through which said plunger passes. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said plunger is fixed to said lid or integral therewith, and said lid comprises a screw-threaded attachment to the remainder of said enclosure. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said plunger is rotatable about said longitudinal axis, thereby enabling the spool to be rotated in said space. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plunger comprises clutch means adapted for preventing continued rotation of the plunger after it has encountered a predetermined resistance to turning movement. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said space is shaped to permit a leading edge of the film to fan out after the spool carrying said film has been moved out of said cassette body and downwardly into said space. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said film has sprocket holes and said block comprises engaging means adapted for engaging a sprocket hole of said film. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said engaging means is a spike protruding into said space and adapted for engaging a sprocket hole in a leading edge of said film. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving the cassette is adapted for exerting a compressive grip on the body of the cassette. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for receiving the cassette is a split cylinder. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving the cassette has a central, longitudinally extending aperture adapted for receiving said body of the cassette, and two adjoining parallel, longitudinally extending slots, being closed at their lower ends, one of said parallel slots being shaped to accomodate the protruding film exit slot of an off-set cassette and the other being shaped to accomodate the protruding film exit slot of a tangential cassette. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said columnar body comprises a removable base permitting access to said space. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said base comprises light labyrinth means for allowing liquid to enter and leave said space, and a light labyrinth air vent in the top of the enclosure. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said light labyrinth means in said base is so constructed that an end cap of the cassette which falls to the bottom of the space can be removed from the apparatus through said last-mentioned light labyrinth means.